The beatitudes Matthew 5:1-12

Introduction

Blessed are they that mourn vs. 4a

What are we mourning?

When we think about mourning, most of us would think back to a time when we mourned the loss of a loved one, but this isn’t the mourning this beatitude is speaking off.

The loss of Sarah caused Abraham to mourn Genesis 23:2 “2 And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.”

Feeling far away from God caused the Psalmist to mourn

Psalm 42:1–3 “1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?”

Defeat and discouragement caused Timothy to mourn leading Paul to write this in 2 Timothy 1:3–4 “3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;”

Concern for the spiritual condition and God’s coming judgement on Israel caused Jeremiah to mourn. Jeremiah 9:1 “1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!”

Even Jesus mourned the loss of his friend Lazarus John 11:35 “35 Jesus wept.” He also wept over the spiritual condition of Jerusalem Matthew 23:37 “37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

All of this is proper mourning, but again not what this beatitude is talking about.

The mourning being spoken of here is a godly sorrow over our sin.

Paul speaks of this sorrow in 2 Cor. 7:10 “10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Spiritual poverty leads to godly sorrow; the poor in spirit become those who mourn.

Think about David and his repentance for his sin with Bathsheba

Psalm 51:3–4 “3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.”

This beatitude goes against everything the world teaches us. How could mourning every make you happy?

The world tells us to live however makes us happy

The world tells us that all of its pleasures produce happiness.

Here Jesus tells us happy are the poor in spirit and then tells us happy are those who mourn.

When David stopped hiding his sin and began mourning over it and confessing it he said this in Psalm 32:1–5 “1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old Through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

McArthur said this, “Happiness or blessedness, does not come in the mourning itself. Happiness comes with what God does in response to it, with the forgiveness that such mourning brings. Godley mourning brings God’s forgiveness, which brings Gods happiness. Mourning is not merely a psychological or emotional experience that makes people feel better. It is a communion with the living, loving God who responds to the mourner with an objective reality—the reality of divine forgiveness!”

Only mourners over sin are truly happy and that is because theres sins are forgiven. Forgiven sins bring an eternity of happiness, because our sins are forgiven we are promised a home in heaven.

One commentary said this “Sin and happiness are totally incompatible, where one exists, the other cannot. Until sin is forgiven and removed happiness is locked out.

James said it this way in James 4:8–10 “8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

What is need today not only in America, but all over the world is people who will mourn over their sinful condition, and seek the forgiveness of sin, found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is needed today is Christians who mourn over the sinful condition of our nation rather than embrace it.

We can react to spiritual bankruptcy in one of several ways

Like the Pharisees we can deny it and pretend we are spiritually rich.

We can admit our condition and try to change it in our own power and by our own efforts

We can admit our condition and try to suppress the guilt through alcohol, drugs, immorality or we can completely give up like Judas.

We can like the prodigal son, admit our condition, mourn over it, and turn to the heavenly father to remedy it.

Luke 15:11–25 (KJV 1900)

Luke 15:11–25 KJV 1900

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

For they shall be comforted vs. 4b

The blessing isn’t found in the mourning, but rather the comfort that God gives as a result of the mourning.

The greatest comfort we have is the comforter that Jesus promised in John 14:16 “16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

Isaiah tells of the coming messiah amongst other things for the purpose of comforting

Isaiah 61:2–3 “2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, To give unto them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they might be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

David was comforted by the rod and staff of the divine shepherd

Psalm 23:4 “4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

God is a God of comfort 2 Corinthians 1:3 “3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

Christ is a Christ of comfort

The Holy spirit is a spirit of comfort

As believers we have the trinity of comfort

God’s word is a comfort to us as well Romans 15:4 “4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

This isn’t a comfort that ends, but a comfort that will last for all eternity.

Happiness comes to sad people because their godly sadness leads to Gods comfort

Matthew 11:28 “28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Conclusion

If you have never mourned over your sins, seeing your need for a saviour and accepted that Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose again three days later, there is no comfort for you.

As christians we should be continually confessing our sins to God so we can enjoy the comforting work of the Holy Spirit.